Water Environment - Policy Statement
The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD) is responsible for advising Ministers
on United Kingdom and European Community policy relating to
agriculture, environmental issues and fisheries, and for
the implementation of those policies in Scotland.
Amongst its functions, SEERAD is responsible for
ensuring that UK and EC objectives for pollution control
and drinking water are met. Additionally, it aims to
protect and enhance the environment by, for example,
promoting sustainable development and by improving
scientific understanding of Scotland's terrestrial and
aquatic environment.
Scottish water quality is, in most circumstances, very
good, and the Scottish Executive is delivering its
Programme for
Government pledges to improve the quality of estuaries,
coastal waters, including those they use for bathing. The
Executive is committed to meeting European Community Water
Quality Standards. We are working with industry,
regulators and others to promote compliance with the
appropriate environmental quality standards especially
where these are required under a European Directive.
The
Scottish
Environment Protection Agency'smain aim is to provide an efficient and integrated
environmental protection system for Scotland which will
both improve the environment and contribute to the
Government's goal of sustainable development. It regulates
potential pollution of natural waters and the air and the
storage, transportation and disposal of controlled waste
and the keeping of radioactive materials. In fulfilment of
it's broader duty to bring about environmental improvement
in Scotland, SEPA provides extensive guidance and
advice.
Scottish Water
has responsibility for the provision of water and sewage
services.
Environmental Problems
The water environment is protected by European and
domestic legislation. Where specific pollution problems are
identified, the water and surrounding area can be
designated. These designations are used to protect fresh
waters for fish, bathing water, shellfish water and to
prevent waters being polluted from anthropogenic or
agricultural sources.